Radio tube clamp



Nov. 6, 1945. P. WHITTELL ET AL 2,338,650

RADIO TUBE CLAMP Filed Feb. 26, 1944 Pe WW EM JQ/Tdi/W hmv hum/ 1 Patented Nov. 6, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I 2,388,650 RADIO TUBE CLAMP Percy Whittell, Philadelphia, Pa., and Frank J. Carraine, West Colllngswood, N..J., asslgnors to Philco Radio and Television Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation 01' Delaware Application February 26, 1944, Serial No. 524,134

11 Claims.

This invention relates to radio tube clamping devices.

More particularly, the invention has reference to a clamping device designed to provide a means for securely holding radio tubes in their sockets, especially in radio installations subject to excessive vibration, such, for example, as in airplanes, tanks, and trucks. Without the use of some positive means to securely hold the tubes in such installations, the vibration tends to work the tubes out of their sockets and may at some crucial moment shut the operator off from needed radio communication.

Tube clamping devices have been used for such purpose, but a particular problem has arisen from the use of structurally different tubes adapted to the same socket. A tube having the stock number 6L6," for example, has a metal casing and an annular flange about its base, while the tube "6L6G is an equivalent tube usable for the same purpose and in the same socket but having a glass shell with an unflanged plastic base. known, until the development of the present invention there has been no single tube-clamp, acceptable to the .industry, capable of positively clamping these two types of radio tube selectively in the same socket.

It is an important object of the invention, therefore, to provide a radio tube clamp designed to securely hold or clamp radio tubes of the aforesaid structurally diiferent characteristics selectively in a single socket with which the said I clamp is associated.

Another object is to provide a clamp of the aforesaid character that will permit easy and rapid replacement oi the tubes in the associated socket irrespective of the said structurally different characteristics.

A further object is to provide a radio tube clamping device of simple design and inexpensive construction well adapted for mass production.

Qther objects of the invention will appear from the following description considered in conjunc-- tion with the several views of the accompanying drawing, in which: I

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view showing a portion of a radio chassis embodying the inven tion;

Fig. 2 is a. perspective view of the clamp removed from the chassis; Fig. 3 is a sectional view, as On the line 3-4 Fig.

l 1, illustrating the manner in which the clamp functions to retain a glass tube in the socket; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating As far as the manner in which a metal tube may be held in the socket by the same clamp; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing the elements of the clamp in normal positions.

Referring to Fig. l of the drawing, the reference numeral l designates a fragmentary portion of a radio chassis having a tube receiving socket 2 provided with prong receiving apertures 3 and keyway I, said keyway constitutinga means for properly .positioningthe tube in the socket. This structure is in conformity with conventional practice and in itself forms no part of the present invention.

Accordingto the invention, a substantially annular clamping device 5, preferably of relatively thin, hardened spring metal, embraces the socket 2. This device comprises fiat horizontal base portions 1, l which, as shown, are located on the plane la of the top surfac of chassis I and which are provided with apertures la through which screws 8 pass to anchor the device to the chassis at points circumferentially spaced about the axis 2a of the socket, and preferably at opposite sides of the socket as shown. Integral with base portions 1, l! and form ng opposite sides of the annulus are arcuate side members 9, 9 which normally diverge upwardly from the plane la at an angle preferably somewhat less than Each of the members -9, 9 has at its inner peripheral edge a bite portion l0, and at itsouter edge an upwardly extending arm ll, said arm terminating in an outwardly flaring edge l2, upon which pressure may be conveniently applied to iiex the side members 9, 9 toward the plane to of the chassis. Each of said arms II is provided with a pair of inwardly projecting ears M, It the function of which will be hereinafter described.

It should be noted that bite portions l0, m are inner edge to be presented relative to a plane perpendicular to said chassis, see Fig. 5.

In practice and as illustrated in Fig. 3, the clamp is normally in the position illustrated by broken lines 5a, When a glass tube It, such as the previously mentioned 6L6G," is tobe inserted in v the socket 2, the tube is pressed downwardly between the arcuate side members 9, 9 of the clamp, flexing these members outwardly and downwardly about their line'srot juncture withthe base portions l, I to an extent permitting the prong or the plastic base I! of the tube to enter the proper apertures 3 in the socket as determined by the keyway l in accordance with conventional practice. When the tube is fully "home in the socket, as illustrated, the sharp inner edges Illa engage the side surfaces of the base H by virtue of the resiliency of said members and thereby create an effective interlock between the clamp and said base. As shown in Fig. l, the arcuate shape of the inner edges of the bite portions ID are such that base 11 is gripped throughout the length of said edges, and while this is preferred it will be apparent that the desired interlock may be effected by other edge formations.

When the base I! has been gripped by'the edges Ina, vibration of the chassis acts to tighten the grip since the edges tend to bite into and interlock with the base 'and thereby positively prevent the tube from working out of the socket. To remove the tube from the socket, however, it is only necessary to exert pressure against the outwardly flaring edges or pressure surfaces It of the arms H to flex the arcuate members 9, 9 outwardly and to thereby break the engagement of bite edges Illa with the base of tube which may then be withdrawn from the socket.

If it is desired to replace the glass tube with a metal tube 20, such as aforesaid 6L6, see Fig. 4, the tube is pressed downwardly against arcuate side portions 9, 9 as described above until they have flexed outwardly far enough for the base 2| of tube to pass therebetween. This metal tube has an annular flange 22 about its base which, during said downward movement, engages first the flaring top edges l2 of the arms II and then engages the inclined edges 15a of the ears H and by camming action with said edges flexes the portions 9, 9 to an extent permitting said flange to pass to a position below the ears, the said portions 9 then springing upwardly and inwardly to an extent engaging the bottom edges 15 of the ears over the flange and thereby locking the tube in the socket 2. This tube may be removed in a manner similar to that described in connection with glass tube l6.

It can be seen that the ears l4 also act to reinforce the arms I I, rendering them substantially rigid and preventing them from flexing when pressure is applied upon the surfaces l2, l2. Downward pressure upon said surfaces is thus translat d into immediate fiexure of the said members 9, 9 toward the plane of the chassis. Rigidity of the arms II is desirable also in connection with the metal tube 20 to prevent the arms from flexing outwardly under pressur ex ertcd by the tube in a direction away from the socket. By reason of said rigidity such pressures can tend only to draw the side members toward each other around the base members I, 1 as a fulcrum and thus to tighten the hold of the clamp on tube.

It should be understood that the bite portions l may be eliminated and th inner edges of side members 9, 9 be designed to engage the base of tube It either frictionally or in a manner similar to the gripping edges l0a to prevent accidental displacement of the tubefrom the socket. Also, the side members 9, 9 may be made as separate pieces each having base portions 1, I, such portions being secured at a common point as illustrated or at separated points. Furthermore,-

while the arcuate shape of these members is preferable, they may assume other convenient shapes. While one of the side members 9 is sufllcient to hold the tube in its socket in some instances, two are generally more effective and are desirable. The clamping device has been described in connection with a glass envelope plastic base tube and a flanged base metal envelope tube, but it should be understood that these tubes have been used for illustrative purposes only, and the invention is not to be construed as limited to tubes of this particular construction since clamps employing the principle of the invention may be used to advantage with other types of cylindrical and flange based tubes.

A desirable feature of the invention resides in the fact that the clamp may be manufactured by simple stamping and bending methods which lend themselves well to mass production.

It will be understood that the clamping device herein described and illustrated is subject to substantial modification without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A tube clamping device consisting of a substantially annular member having opposite arcuate resilient side portions diverging angularly from one side of a common base plane and with respect to each other for embracing the base of said tube, each of said side portions having an inwardly directed bite portion for clamping engagement with said base, and having an arm extending away from said plane and beyond the said bite portion, and an inwardly projecting shoulder-forming lug on said arm also for clamping engagement with said base.

2. A tube clamping device consisting of a substantially annular member having opposite arcuate resilient side portions diverging angularly from one side of a common base plane and with respect to each other for embracing the base of said tube, each of said side portions having an inwardly directed bite portion for clamping engagement with said base and having an arm extending away from said plane and beyond the said bite portion and terminating in an outward- 1y flared extremity, and an inwardly projecting shoulder-forming lug on said arm also for clamping engagement with said base.

3. A tube clamping device consisting of a substantially annular member having opposite arcuate resilient side portions diverging angularly from one side of a common base plane and with respect to each other. each or said side portions having an inwardly directed 'bito portion, and having an arm extending away from said plane and beyond the said bite portion and terminating in an outwardly flared extremity, and an inwardly projecting shoulder-forming lug on said arm having an inner surface inclined inwardly toward said plane.

4. A tube clamping device consistin of a substantially annular member having opposite arcuate resilient side portions diverging angularly from one side of a common base plane and with respect to each other, each of said side portions having an inwardly directed shoulder-forming lug the inwardly facing surface of which is in.- clined inwardly toward said plane, and said side portions having each an inwardly directed bite portion in position intermediate the lug and said plane.

5. A tube clamping device consisting of a sub stantially annular member having opposite arcuate resilient side portions diverging angularly from one side of a common base plane and with respect to each other, each of said side portions having an inwardly directed shoulder-forming lug and having an inwardly directed bite portion in position intermediate the lug and said plane, said bite portion comprising a short inward projection from said resilient side portion having an arcuate edge.

6. A tub'e clamping device comprising resilient substantially flat arcuate members'oppositely arranged in embracingrelation with the base of said tube. said members diverging angularly from one side of a common base plane and with respect to each other, the inner edge of said members forming an inwardly directed bite portion for clamping engagement with said base, an arm projecting from the outer edge of each of said members and away from said plane, and an inturned shoulder-forming ear on each or said arms also for clamping engagement with said base.-

7. In combination, a radio tube socket adapted to selectively receive tubes having structurally different characteristics, a tube clamp adapted to releasably maintain said tubes in said socket, said clamp comprising base portions secured respectively at apposite sides of said socket, and arcuate resilient side members having inner and outer edges and diverging upwardly from said base portions to form with the latter a substantially ring-like structure surrounding said Socket, each of said side members having at its inner edge and intermediate its ends an inwardly directed bite portion adapted to grip the base 01' a cylindrical-base tube, and each of said side 9. In a radio chassis, a tube socket, and means associated with said socket for securely holding a tube in said socket, said means comprising a pair of resilient side members diverging angularly from said chassis and from each othen and partially surrounding said socket, means for anchoring said members to the chassis, each of said members having a tube gripping edge arranged to grip the peripheral base of a tubular-base tube by virtue of the resilient bias of said members to thereby hold the tube in said socket, said mem-- bers being flexible toward the chassis in response to pressure thereon to disengage said grip, each of said members also having an extending arm with inwardly projecting ear. portions arranged to overlie an outwardly extending flange on a flanged-base tube to hold said tube in the socket, said ears being releasable from said flange by flexure of said members toward the chassis.

10. A device for securing a radio tube in its socket, said device comprising a pair of complementary sheet spring-metal members arranged to at least partially encircle the base of a radio angularly with respect to the tube axis, each of members having on its outer edge and intermediate its ends an inwardly projecting element adapted to overlie a flange of a flanged-base tube.

8. In a radio chassis, a tube socket, and means associated with said socket to securely hold a tube in said socket, said means comprising a substantially ring-like device surrounding said socket and having oppositely arranged base portions se: cured to said chassis respectively at opp site sides of said socket, and spring metal side members diverging angularly from said base portions, said members having inwardly directed edges adapted to grip said tube and oppose movement there i from said socket, and extended arms termina ing in outwardly flared edges to provide a pressure surface for flexing said side members toward the chassis to sever engegement of said gripping edges with the tube, said arms having inwardly turned reinforcing ears to reinforce said arms and to render them substantially rigid, said ears being operative also to overlie the flange of a flanged-base tube to hold it in said socket and being releasable from said flange by flexure 0! said members toward the chassis.

said members having a base-gripping edge and said edges being oppositely disposed with relation to the tube base and being operative conjointly to grip the peripheral surface of the said base by virtue of the resilient bias of said members, each of said members being flexible in response to pressure to a position wherein the said gripping edge is disengaged from the tube base, said members each having an ear-like appendage disposed remotely from the point of anchorage of it spective member and operative to overlie an outwardly projecting flangeon a flange-based tube, said appendage being releasable from said flange by flexure of said members.

11.'A construction in accordance with claim 9 I wherein said ear-like appendages are substanmembers outwardly.

. PERCY WHI'I'I'EIL.

FRANK J. CARRAmE. 

